The spiritual realm is the world of Causes. The manifest material
world, that is so familiar to us through our senses, is the world
of Effects. Thought always precedes manifestation in the material
world. All that is manifest in the material world, whether in
nature or man-made, was first a thought; a grand design.

So, when the Higher Self overshadows your conscious mind, you
become a master of manifesting because you work on the fluid
spiritual level where creation first takes place. So, to truly
take control of your life, you must learn to manifest the effects
you seek in the material world by first becoming a master of your
mind; one who is skilled in the spiritual realm of Causes.

Why do goal-setting and visualization work so well in helping you
manifest what you really want? It is simply because they work at
the level from which the entire universe manifests. By
functioning at the level of Cause, they influence and control
the basic substance and mechanism by which things eventually
manifest in the everyday world.

Although this may seem like a profound concept, it is actually
not a difficult one and is actually relatively commonplace. After
all, everything in human society works in a similar fashion.
Where do skyscrapers come from? They do not simply grow out of
the ground! They are meticulously planned first in the mind of
the chief architect. He draws upon years of his own experience,
decades of experience by his forerunners, and crystallizes his
vision through the use of accurate drawings.

In fact, all works of Art, all technological inventions, and even
a child's sandcastle are all constructed through creating first
in the world of Causes or Ideas, and then manifesting in the
world of Effects.

Of course, these examples are analogies to help you realize that
the realm in which all manifested reality is first created is
actually non-material in nature. In truth, manifestation does not
necessarily require paid labor, bulldozers and huge financing, as
in the case of the skyscraper. It can happen directly. Once the
Mind and Spirit are in perfect harmony, i.e. the Higher Self is
in its rightful relationships with the rest of your psyche, then
this is exactly what happens.

The esoteric tradition teaches that before the Creation described
in the Book of Genesis ever took place, God created the whole
universe, down to the last detail, in his mind first! It was all
planned down to the very last details and only then was it
brought into being in the "real" world.

Whether you choose to take this literally or as a parable on the
principle of manifestation, the idea is very clear. In order to
manifest anything in the world around you, it is essential that
you hold it clearly and completely in your mind first. Once you
can do this, and truly will it with emotion and drive, it must
happen.

A modern day example, and exact comparison with the creation
story in fact, is Nicola Tesla; the genius who brought us
alternating electrical current, upon which our entire modern
civilization is based. Tesla designed an entire electric motor,
down to the last details, and then set it running for several
months IN HIS MIND. He observed it and made appropriate
corrections. Only when he was completely content with it did he
actually build it in the physical world. It worked flawlessly the
very first time!

Thought is everything and the power of the coherent mind that is
fully under control and knows exactly what it wants is
unstoppable. That is why the ancient scriptures tell us to be
shepherds of our thoughts. In the ancient parables, what are
sheep? Ask yourself, what do sheep do? They run all over the
place if left to their own devices. They have no overall group
coordination. However, a good shepherd can cause them to move as
one coherent unit.

The sheep are our thoughts. You are the shepherd and your job is
to bring your thoughts, will and desires under conscious control.
Whilst it is no easy task, this is the first step on the road to
true spiritual mastery. It is only achieved to perfection when
the Higher Self is in its proper relationship to the rest of your
being.

Once this is achieved, you can readily produce powerful effects
through working directly in the world of Causes. This is the
principle by which magic and miracles are done. This is how you
manifest the chance meetings and "lucky" breaks you need to get
where you really want to be. It is how millionaires became rich
and how spiritual seekers gain Enlightenment; by having a clear
unshakeable vision of what they want and holding it firmly and
coherently in mind each day until it manifests, as it inevitably
must.

So how do you go about doing this? The following steps are the
way to begin the process:

(1) Gain a true perspective on Creation. Work actively to
undermine the materialistic erroneous assumptions you have come
to firmly believe. Read and ponder works that describe the
spiritual realm, and teach you to manifest what you want.

(2) Learn to meditate. The clearest way to take control of your
thoughts is first to observe them and see them for what they are.

(3) Keep active guard at the door of your mind. Be careful what
you let in. Do you really need that rather violent home video
rental? Question the sort of TV you watch.

(4) Actively seek to reduce and ultimately eliminate negative and
unresourceful thinking in your life. Seek out and study the means
to do this. Put them to work.

(5) Most important of all, develop a clear vision for what you
want to manifest. Most people have no idea. See it, taste it,
touch it and smell it in your imagination. Get excited about it.
Expect it with all your being and you must eventually attain it.
It is the infallible law of creation.

Copyright Ó 2001 Asoka SelvarajahAll Rights Reserved

Dr. Asoka Selvarajah is an active writer/researcher on personal
development and esoteric spirituality. Asoka's work helps
people achieve their full potential, deepen their understanding
of mystical truth, and find joy in their true soul's purpose.
Visit his website at Mystic Visions. Subscribe to his FREE ezine Aspire To Wisdom and download his free ebook "Inner Light, Outer Wealth - A Guide To Spiritual Growth & Personal Improvement."